BENTONVILLE – Tigers running back Jacob Clark was battling a bum knee, but came up big when Bentonville needed him most in a 38-31 win Friday.

The senior running back rushed for three touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter, to push Bentonville over a tough Catholic team and into the state quarterfinals against FS Northside. Clark rushed for 186 yards on 23 touches and had scores of 1, 30 and 38 yards.

The Rockets gave the Tigers all they wanted and more and even carried a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter without their starting quarterback and running back, who left the game with injuries in the first half. Catholic played relatively clean football until its final drive when it was whistled for a false start with the ball at the Bentonville 6 with under a minute to play and trailing by 7.

Catholic sophomore running back Samy Johnson scored twice and rushed for 172 yards in less than one half of play before leaving the game with an arm/shoulder injury. Offense was plenty in the first quarter with each team using the big play to find the end zone.

Bentonville star receiver Kam’Ron Mays-Hunt caught five passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the first quarter on passes of 63 and 39 yards. But the big play of the night came in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 31.

Canaan Ross, on 4th and 6, hit tight end Tyler Johnson for 30 yards down to the Catholic 5 for a big first down. Two plays later, Clark scored to set the final score. Catholic would drive the ball deep into Bentonville territory in the waning moments of the game, but the Tigers forced a turnover on downs to secure the win.
